Tuesday

If you noticed that your dog is licking its lips and coughing, he may not have a simple cough. He may be suffering from tonsillitis. Some people may not know it, but it is not only humans who experience tonsillitis. Man's best friend is likewise susceptible to this infection.

Tonsillitis is an inflammation of the tonsils which are lymph nodes located at the back of a dog's throat. This may be caused by viral or bacterial infection. Learning more about tonsillitis and how it affects dog health is very useful. Knowing what are the potential causes and treatments for the ailment will help pet owners in resolving dog health issues related to tonsillitis.

How Do Dogs Get Tonsillitis?

Tonsillitis in dogs is primarily caused by a bacteria or virus attacking the dog's immune system. There are some situations such as diseases in the dog's mouth and chronic vomiting which bring about this infection to your canine pal. Sore throat is also another factor found to be linked to tonsillitis. Tartar buildup may likewise cause this common dog health problem. One unique fact regarding tonsillitis though is that it is more common in smaller breeds as compared to bigger ones. So if you have small dogs then regularly checking for the symptoms would be a recommended practice.

How Do I Know My Dog Has Tonsillitis?

Some of the most common symptoms of tonsillitis in dogs are coughing and gagging. This is the most noticeable and most likely to grab the owner's attention. Aside from this, other known symptoms of tonsillitis are fever, difficulty swallowing, repeated licking of the lips, and refusal to eat. In some cases, the inflamed tonsils of the canine can be noticed upon a simple stroke of your pet's neck.

How Do I Treat Tonsillitis In My Dog?

To best treat tonsillitis in dogs, it is important to find out what specifically caused it. Addressing the root cause would then result in the deflation of the tonsils and improving the overall dog health of your pet. It's always wise to consult a veterinarian on the proper treatment to administer so you would not be giving the wrong medicine to your pet.

Prednisone, an antibiotic, is usually prescribed by the vet in cases where vomiting and coughing symptoms are present. If the cause is the tartar buildup then a dental cleaning would probably be administered. In worst cases the doctor would recommend for a tonsillectomy to be done. This is a procedure where the inflamed tonsils are removed surgically and is done only when necessary.

How Can I Prevent Tonsillitis In My Dog?

It's an age old saying that prevention is better than cure. Keep your dog's oral hygiene in proper check and have regular check-up visits to the vet. This can help prevent tonsillitis and limit the dog health issues that your pet may encounter. It may seem a bit expensive at first but keeping your pet healthy and happy will be well worth it.

Dog health is very important to all dog lovers out there. Knowing some of the diseases that might affect our dogs will help in the prevention and in curing our canine companion. One of the rare diseases that affect dogs is hyperthyroidism, which we'll be going into further in a moment.

The Thyroid gland is one of the largest Endocrine gland in the body. It produces thyroid hormones which are important in regulating many metabolic processes in the body by producing thyroid hormones the most primary of which are the triiodothyronine (T3) and the thyroxine (T4). It is important to dogs as it regulates the rate of metabolism and also affects their growth. Although rare in dogs, one ailment which have been documented to affect the thyroid glands of dogs is hyperthyroidism.

Hyperthyroidism in dogs occurs when the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormones, particularly thyroxin, usually because of a tumor in the gland. It is bad for dog health because it can cause weight loss, hyperactivity, and restlessness.

If you want to check your dog to see if it is suffering from hyperthyroidism and to catch it early on, be sure to watch out for the following symptoms or changes in dog health.

1. Weight Loss – Despite eating the same amount of food or even more, dogs that have
hyperthyroidism may lose weight. This is probably one of the symptoms which can easily be observed. If your dog is eating a lot of food yet is losing weight then you better consult your vet right away.

2.Increased Activity or Restlessness– Dogs that have hyperthyroidism tend to be hyperactive. An increase in the activity of your dog or increased restlessness can be caused by the high thyroid hormones. Take note of any surprising hyperactive or restless behavior in your pooch and report any prolonged peculiar behavior immediately.

3. Increased Heart Rate – the high production of T3 in the body causes the heart rate of the canine to rise. Check your pet's heartbeat from time to time to catch any abnormal increase in heartbeat early.

4. Increase in Water Intake and Urination – Water is important to dog health. But if you observe that your canine is drinking more water than usual for an extended period of time it may be caused by hyperthyroidism.

If you notice any of the above symptoms pay a visit to your veterinarian immediately. There are several treatments available in order to cure your pet and to improve your dog's health. Options which are practicable range from medication to the more intensive option of surgery. Discuss with your veterinarian what option you would like to take. A healthy dog is a happy dog so be sure to pay close attention to the dog health of your pet so that you may catch hyperthyroidism early and stop it in its
tracks.